Tag how to plant a tree

we love trees

Top 10 Trends That Need to Go in 2024

by Texas Tree Surgeons Arborist Services, Resources, Tree Health Care

At Texas Tree Surgeons we love trees. This is our top 10 list of tree trends that got to go in 2024!

  • Topped Crape Myrtles
    • Just stop! It is a weird trend in North Texas that is based solely on aesthetics and doesn’t increase bloom production.
  • Artificial Turf *
    • What’s worse than grass, artificial grass? It may look perfect, but it will kill your tree. 
  • Decorative Rocks at the Base of Trees
    • Who decided heavy rocks at the base of trees is more attractive than mulch? It adds weight and during the summer extra heat to cook your tree roots. If you want to hide your roots, we suggest mulch. It looks great, and benefits the health of your tree.
  • Lack of Tree Protection During Construction
    • Leading killer of urban trees is construction due to soil compaction. This could be easily prevented with consultation from a certified arborist.
  • Improperly Pruned Trees
    • Improperly pruned trees, like lion tailing, ruins the structural ability of the tree which causes damage to its overall health. Avoid this risk by only hiring an ISA Certified Arborist for tree services. 
  • Use of Weed & Feed *
    • The chemicals used on consumer products like weed & feed misrepresent its effects on trees. By nature weed & feed is designed to kill woody stemmed plants. Trees are woody stemmed plants.
  • Relying on Sprinkler Systems to Water Trees
    • A common mistake people make is assuming that their sprinkler systems will adequately water their trees. Sprinkler systems were designed with lawns in mind and not trees. Trees need to be watered with a soaker hose or garden hose on slow, low pressure.
  • Root Disturbance
    • The roots of a tree need to be cared for as much, if not more than the canopy of tree. Best way to care for them? Leave them untouched.
  • Incorrectly Planted Trees
    • Trees are an investment, taking the time to plant a tree correctly will ensure your tree will thrive and increase the value of your home.
  • Waiting Till There are Signs of Stress to Contact an Arborist
    • Preventive care is the best care. Having a certified arborist  that regularly assesses and understands the local environment in relation to your specific tree will ensure it will remain healthy in the long term. Waiting until there are signs of stress in a tree’s canopy incurs more cost and harm.

* (these articles will be released in the near future, check back to read)

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! What are your top ten harmful tree trends that need to go? We would love to know.

Texas Tree Surgeons employee removing synthetic material from the root ball to plant properly into the ground.

Tree Planting Basics

by Texas Tree Surgeons Tree Owner's Guide

A common mistake people make when planting a tree is to directly plant it into the ground from the container. Below are guidelines to follow to make sure you have planted your tree in the most optimal way possible.

Location

Choose the right tree for your site, and the right site for your tree!

Avoid planting tree’s close to one another and take into account potential obstacles for growth such as overhead or underground utilities that may prevent your new tree from thriving.

Timing

Winter and early spring are the best times to plant new trees.

When temperatures are cooler, trees are less active and can handle the stress of planting better. Planting before the growing season gives new trees an opportunity to become established before the stress of summer heat

Site Preparation

Before digging, especially if planting a larger tree, locate any underground irrigation or utility lines so that they will not be damaged. In Texas, homeowners (or their contractors) are required to contact Texas811 two business days before digging, even in their own yard.

  • Remove turf grass or other ground cover before digging
  • Dig the right-sized hole for the tree you are planting
  • In general, the hole should be three times the diameter of the container or roots of the tree to be planted

Planting

We have two guides that will show you how to plant a tree so you can avoid common issues like; girdling roots, improper depth, over/underwatering. The following links can be found here:

Initial Care

Plan to water your new tree at least once a week in the spring, fall, and winter, and twice a week in the summer. We have to guides that can be found here:

How to Water a Tree How-to Video

Maintain a proper mulch radius (3″-4″ deep, two to three feet from the trunk) around your new tree, adding more mulch as needed and as the tree grows. Learn more about mulch here:

Trimming

Young trees do not need to be trimmed for several years, but may benefit from structural pruning.

Additional Resources

Texas A&M Forest Service has tree planting guidelines online. In addition the International Society of Arboriculture also offers planting tips.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! We hope this blog on tree planting will take the guess work out of how to plant a tree. We have additional resources on our North Texas Tree Owner’s Guide. If you would like immediate assistance with your trees please contact us today.

North Texas Tree Owner’s Guide